Smrz signs to ride with Molenaar for 2004

Smrz signs to ride with Molenaar for 2004

Czech GP star and the only representative in the 250cc World Championships from his country, Jakub Smrz, is set to start his fourth year of Grand Prix participation in 2004 as part of the Honda Arie Molenaar racing team.

The Dutch outfit enlisted the services of the 20 year old towards the end of the 2003 campaign after he had been released from his contract with the Elit squad. He scored their first points of the quarter-litre season with 14th position at the final race in Valencia. Smrz managed to notch an overall placing of 24th in the standings with a highest result of 12th at Assen.
The former European 125cc star and three times national Champ at the same level, who is also currently still studying, will steer a kitted RS 250cc Honda in the team headed by ex-125 GP winner Hans Spaan.
"Jakub is a good rider but sometimes he wants too much," Spaan commented. "He has now had three years in an around the GPs and he is the type of rider you have to calm down rather than push onwards. He has the track knowledge and also some experience of the 125s so I am hoping he will be a positive influence on young 125cc rookie Raymond Schouten; I expect Jakub to be scoring points regularly next year."
Smrz earned five top ten finishes riding a Honda in the 2001 125cc Championship and a career best (that still stands) with fifth position at Assen. For 2002 he started in the 125s and finished in the 250s establishing a link with the Dutch team at this time when he filled in for Katja Poensgen.